Literature: Warnings from the Past

In the beginning, the first human beings drew pictures on the walls of caves to tell stories. The development of the written language led to the establishment of written stories and literature. The establishment of literature began not only an art form but also a way to make warnings and messages live on for centuries after the writer passed. The written word not only tells us of the story that it describes but also of the story of the writer and the times in which they lived. The sentence “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it” is a common proverb of modern society. This phrase undoubtedly describes literature. Only by teaching oneself about the warnings of the past can one be mindful of the world around them and what better way to learn about that past than to read the writings created in that time.

The story of Beowulf is one of the earliest heroic tales written. Beowulf tells a great tale of a hero overcoming great obstacles and fighting terrible beasts that plague mankind. However, looking deeper within the story of Beowulf, it tells much more about the society in which it was written. In analyzing the absence of women in the story and the roles of women that were present, the roles of men and women in the society of the writer can be found. The few women that are mentioned in Beowulf are in submissive roles. Even a woman so high up in stature as the Queen is said to make her rounds offering mead to all of the men of the hall. Women in the story are thought of as nurturers and as relaxing conveniences to men. A “battle-scarred Swede” (32, 63) named Onela in the story is wed to Halfdane’s daughter. She is not referred to by name but only as “Halfdane’s daughter” and is called a “balm in bed” (32, 63) to Onela. From these mentions in Beowulf, the role of women during the time period of the writer can be compared to the story. Men are measure by their heroic deeds, by their chivalry and by their valor in battle. Women were not equal to men and were not as highly regarded.

Centuries later, during the time of Chaucer, religion ruled European society. The King of England was thought to be the most powerful man in the country, second only to the pope. Christian morals, ideals and influences affected all forms of art and literature is no exception. Through analyzing Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, it becomes apparent that the role of women in society has gained in stature but is still not thought to be equal to that of men. Women are mentioned and written about. Additionally, Christian values and morals can be seen underlying almost every story. In both the Miller’s Tale and the Wife of Bath’s Tale, Chaucer points out that the sins of lust and adultery carry harsh consequences. Chaucer also subtly points out that the people should marry within their own age group in the Wife of Bath’s Tale. These are examples of Christian values and morals in a Christian society